Travel health advice for the United Arab Emirates

Travellers to the United Arab Emirates should check their routine vaccinations before departure and may need additional vaccines depending on their age, health, itinerary and planned activities. Heat, strong sunlight, dehydration, food and water hygiene, medicines and access to healthcare also deserve attention when planning a trip to the UAE.

Most visits are trouble-free with sensible preparation. However, health recommendations and entry requirements can change, so check current official guidance and speak to an appropriate healthcare professional before you travel.

Table of Contents

UAE travel health at a glance

The United Arab Emirates has modern healthcare services, especially in major cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Nevertheless, treatment can be expensive for visitors, so suitable travel medical insurance is important.

What vaccinations do I need for the UAE?

There is no single vaccination schedule that suits every visitor to the UAE. Instead, recommendations depend on factors such as your age, vaccination history, medical needs, length of stay and planned activities.

Ideally, review your vaccinations several weeks before departure. Additionally, check official travel health guidance again shortly before your trip because recommendations can change.

Important: Vaccination advice depends on your personal circumstances. Therefore, use current official guidance and seek individual medical advice rather than relying on a general country list alone.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccination for the UAE?

The UAE does not routinely require yellow fever vaccination because of yellow fever risk within the country. However, travellers aged nine months or older may need proof of vaccination when arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

In addition, a long airport transit or layover in a yellow fever risk country can affect the requirement. Check the rule for your complete itinerary, including transit points, rather than considering only your departure airport.

If your journey could trigger a certificate requirement, confirm the latest entry rules before travelling. You can also review our UAE visa requirements and entry rules for broader immigration planning.

Recommended article: Health guide to Yellow Fever

Heat, dehydration and sun exposure

High temperatures can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke in the UAE. The risk can increase during sightseeing, desert trips, hiking, outdoor work or exercise, particularly in hot and humid conditions.

Drink water regularly, take breaks in shaded or air-conditioned places and wear lightweight clothing that suits the conditions. Moreover, use suitable sun protection, including sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat when appropriate.

Know the signs of heat illness

Heat exhaustion can cause symptoms such as weakness, headache, nausea, dizziness and heavy sweating. Move to a cooler place, rest and rehydrate if symptoms begin.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Confusion, collapse, severe overheating or a rapidly worsening condition requires urgent medical help; therefore, call 998 for an ambulance if necessary.

Plan outdoor activities carefully

Where possible, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day. Furthermore, do not assume that a short desert excursion is low risk simply because transport has air conditioning; delays or vehicle problems can leave travellers exposed to intense heat.

Food and drinking water safety

Good food and water hygiene can reduce the risk of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal illness. Choose food that has been stored and prepared hygienically, and be cautious with food that has remained in warm conditions for long periods.

Wash or sanitise your hands before eating. Additionally, travellers with sensitive stomachs or specific medical needs may prefer sealed bottled water when they are uncertain about a local water supply.

Food hygiene standards vary between establishments, so use judgement wherever you eat. Meanwhile, avoid consuming food that looks undercooked, poorly stored or unrefrigerated when refrigeration is necessary.

Mosquitoes and insect bites

Insect exposure can vary by location, season and activity. Even when the overall risk of mosquito-borne illness is low, bites can still cause irritation and occasionally transmit disease.

Use insect repellent when needed and consider clothing that covers exposed skin, especially around areas where insects are active. Furthermore, follow any current public health advice if authorities report a local disease outbreak.

Animals and rabies

Rabies can occur in dogs and some wildlife in the UAE. Most travellers do not automatically need a pre-exposure rabies vaccine; instead, the decision depends on likely animal contact, planned activities and access to prompt medical treatment.

Avoid touching unfamiliar dogs, cats, bats and wild animals. Moreover, teach children not to approach or feed animals because they may be more likely to receive a bite or scratch.

If an animal bites or scratches you, wash the wound immediately with plenty of soap and running water and seek urgent medical advice. Do not wait for symptoms before asking about rabies post-exposure treatment.

Recommended article: Direct contact diseases

MERS and contact with camels

Middle East respiratory syndrome, usually called MERS, is a respiratory illness associated with the Arabian Peninsula. Travellers can reduce risk by following good hygiene and avoiding close contact with sick animals.

Camels can carry the virus linked to MERS. Therefore, avoid unprotected contact with sick camels and follow current health guidance around camel farms, markets and animal facilities.

If you develop significant respiratory symptoms during or after travel, seek medical advice and explain your recent travel history and any relevant animal contact.

Can I take prescription medicines into the UAE?

The UAE controls some narcotic, psychotropic and other medicines more strictly than many countries. Consequently, a medicine that is legal or routinely prescribed at home may face different rules when you enter the UAE.

Check your medicine against current guidance from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention before departure. For controlled medicines, travellers may need supporting documentation, and the Ministry provides a service for travellers who want prior approval.

Keep medicines in suitable packaging and carry the prescription or medical documentation required for your medication. In addition, check quantity limits because the rules can distinguish between controlled medicines and prescription-only medicines.

Avoid relying on unofficial lists of banned medicines, since classifications and procedures can change. Instead, verify your exact medicine and active ingredient with the relevant UAE authority.

Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates

The UAE has public and private healthcare facilities, with extensive medical services in major population centres such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. However, visitors should not assume that treatment will be free.

Take your passport and insurance details when seeking non-emergency care where practical. Furthermore, travellers with a pre-existing condition should identify suitable healthcare facilities near their destination before they need them.

If you plan to spend time in remote desert or mountain areas, consider how quickly you could reach appropriate medical care. This becomes especially important if you have a condition that may need urgent specialist treatment.

In partnership with SafetyWings

Live boldly, travel safely.

Choose the travel insurance plan that matches your journey.

EXPLORE PLANS

Travel medical insurance for the UAE

Comprehensive travel medical insurance can protect you from substantial costs if you need unexpected treatment in the UAE. Choose cover that matches your health needs, itinerary and planned activities rather than selecting a policy on price alone.

Check medical limits, exclusions, excesses and emergency assistance arrangements before buying a policy. Additionally, confirm cover for pre-existing conditions and higher-risk activities such as adventure sports, off-road driving or remote excursions when relevant.

Medical evacuation can be expensive, so consider whether your policy includes it. Moreover, keep your insurer’s emergency contact details available while travelling.

Anothertravel.com has teamed up with SafetyWing to offer travel medical insurance that provides peace of mind by covering any unexpected medical expenses you may face while exploring the country.

What should I do in a medical emergency in the UAE?

Call 998 for an ambulance anywhere in the United Arab Emirates. Give the operator clear information about the patient’s condition and location, then follow the instructions you receive.

If you can do so safely, keep your passport, insurance details, current medication list and emergency contacts accessible. In addition, travellers may find it useful to save key numbers using our UAE country code and dialling guide.

For non-medical emergencies or consular assistance, see our guide to embassies and consulates in the UAE.

Health advice for desert and outdoor activities

Desert drives, hiking and outdoor excursions can take you away from immediate access to shops, shade and medical facilities. Therefore, carry enough drinking water, a charged phone and any essential medication you may need.

Tell someone your plans when travelling into remote areas and use an experienced operator for activities that require specialist equipment or local knowledge. Furthermore, check weather and local safety information before setting out.

Sand, glare and dry conditions can irritate the eyes and respiratory system. Consequently, travellers who use contact lenses or have respiratory conditions may want to carry suitable protective items and discuss their plans with a healthcare professional.

Before you travel to the UAE

• Check that your routine vaccinations are up to date.
• Ask whether hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid or rabies vaccination is appropriate for you.
• Check whether your route creates a yellow fever certificate requirement.
• Verify the UAE rules for every prescription or controlled medicine you plan to carry.
• Arrange travel medical insurance that suits your health and activities.
• Plan for heat, sun exposure and dehydration.
• Save 998 as the UAE ambulance number.
• Recheck official travel health information shortly before departure.

For broader advice on preparing for a healthy trip, including vaccinations, food and water safety, insect protection, prescription medicines and travel health kits, read our travel health advice before you go.

FAQs: About travel health advice for the UAE

Official health information

Travel health guidance can change. For the latest country-specific recommendations, consult recognised public health authorities and the relevant UAE government services before travelling.

• CDC Travelers’ Health: United Arab Emirates
• UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention
• Official UAE Government health information

Health information can change. Always check current official advice and speak to an appropriate healthcare professional about your individual circumstances before travelling.